Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-03-26
WOSERIOUSAFFRAY
A BRACE OF SALOON FIGHTS LATE LAST
NIGHT.
The Police Kept Busy-A Forgery Case Before a
JS6o-Jsf Davis Heard
From.

Pandemonium seems 10 have broken
loose last night in the city and there was
the very mischief to pay, and if anybody
desired to get n ioretaste OF Hades they
could have done 50 by visiting the lookup
about II o'clock last night. The scene
was certainly wild and wierd, and old
Nick was getting in his work in fine
shape. The air in police headquarters
was perfectly blue with the fumes of pro-
family resulting from bad whiskey and
bad blood.
About IL O'Clock last night what might
have proved q very serious shooting ARRAY
occurred in Richard Mansield's saloon on
Main street below Tenth. From what
can be learned of the affair, it seems b a
Con Mcdonald, the well known river pilot,
with his friend Nathan Kuhn, engineer al
the Water Works, went into Mansfeld's
to have a friendly drink. They were
shortly followed by Lem Barrett and a
friend named John Rine, better known as
''Tugger'' Rine, a North End nail feeder.
It appears that q feud has existed between
Barrett and Mcdonald for some time and
they have had several quarrels, but moth
ing serious ever came of them. Some time
after they had been in the saloon the
Quarrel was renewed, and Rine was fore
most in his defense of Barrett.
The racket becoming pretty warm, Mi.
Mansfield came out from behind the, bar
and separated the men, telling them that
they would have 10 be quiet or leave. He
had hardly got behind the bar again when
Rine called Mcdonald q very harsh name,
which the latter demanded be taken back.
The men were in very close quarters, but
bystanders say that Rine struck Mcdonald
and was followed in the same performance
by Barrett, when Kuhn jumped in to take
his friends part Then the fightbecame gen.
eral, and the men slugged each other pretty
lively for a time, gradually getting over
toward the door. But they didn't strike
the door. The crowded over into the cor
ner opposite the bar and tore down a cur
tain which hung in front of a large plate
glass window.
Then suddenly one of the men was
pushed against the window. There was a
crash, and the costly glass was
smashed to smithereens, falling
in pieces to the floor, making
a terrible racket. For q wonder no one
was injured by the falling glass, but sud
denly Barrett was seen to jump quickly
back, and picking up his coat which he
had pulled off he started for the rear part
of the room with his hand on his hip peck
ct. The bar WAS full of people at the time
and when they saw Barrett's action lost no
time in making themselves scarce.
When Barrett reached the rear door OF
the saloon he pulled out 4 revolver and
pointing it to the front part Of the room
where Mcdonald and Kuhn stood he fired
three times in swift succession. Then two
more shots were fired. This cleared the
saloon almost completely, only W young
men who could not get out OF
the way remaining. Three of the shots
struck the plastering and dropped to the
floor, while the other two it is thought
struck the floor. Barrett and Rine then
ran out through the back door and climb
ing over Dumas stable escaped onto Mar
ket street, while Mcdonald and Kuhn re-
manned in the saloon.
Officers Watson and Dunlap, who were
on Market street, heard the shooting and
ran for the saloon, entering by the front
door. BY this time Barrett and Rine were
well away, but the other two were
put under arrest when the circumstances
were explained, although they were not
locked up. Officer Dunlap then went on
a search for the fugitiyes, going to Barrett's
house, but failing to find him. About !
/ o'clock, however, Officer Hazlett showed
up at headquarters with Rine, who was
placed in the cooler. The escape of every
one from even being touched bya bullet, is
something remarkable as we'll as fortunate,
although the window was totally demOl'
ished aud will make a neat bill for som
one to settle.